A Colombian known as "El Loco" has pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge in a New York case accusing him of importing hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States.
Daniel Barrera entered the plea in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday.
Barrera is being held without bail. His lawyer declined comment outside court.
U.S. prosecutors have described the 46-year-old Barrera as one of the largest cocaine distributors in history. They alleged he processed about 30,000 kilograms -- more than 60,000 pounds -- of raw cocaine into cocaine powder each month since 1998.
Barrera admitted manufacturing and distributing 400 tons of cocaine annually from 1998 to 2010.
He was extradited from Colombia after his 2012 arrest in Venezuela.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
